About Dr. Hartoonian

Dr. Hartoonian is a Clinical Health and Rehabilitation psychologist at the Rowan Center for Behavioral Medicine. She has several years of interdisciplinary clinical and research experience in health and rehabilitation psychology and has served the needs of many individuals with chronic medical conditions and disability. In addition to her role at the Rowan Center for Behavioral Medicine, Dr. Hartoonian currently serves as a research scientist for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Multiple Sclerosis Center of Excellence. Dr. Hartoonian has a very rare combination of knowledge around clinical care and applicable research design and methodology, including translational work that utilizes research findings to impact clinical care and services. Dr. Hartoonian's passion for evidence-based treatments stems from her strong research and empirical background and the invaluable training she received from the University of Washington’s Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, a department that has been ranked in the top four rehabilitation medicine programs nationwide for the past 23 years.

Dr. Hartoonian’s clinical experiences have included hospital consultation services, both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, interdisciplinary outpatient treatments for individuals with acute and chronic medical conditions and general clinical services in outpatient psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences.

Background

Dr. Hartoonian received her Bachelor and Master of Science in Physiology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Loma Linda University (LLU). Dr. Hartoonian completed her American Psychological Association (APA) accredited residency and postdoctoral fellowship training (clinical and research) within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine. Prior to her residency, Dr. Hartoonian also completed predoctoral clinical training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation.

In addition to her clinical background, Dr. Hartoonian has published numerous articles and given presentations at national and international conferences (please see Dr. Hartoonian’s Curriculum Vitae for additional information). Dr. Hartoonian has taught various graduate and undergraduate courses in the physiological sciences, health and biological psychology, multivariate statistics, and research methodology and design. Dr. Hartoonian has also served as a research and statistical consultant for the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs and for various academic institutions for many years.

Dr. Hartoonian is licensed by the Board of Psychology in the state of California her license number is PSY26980.

Hartoonian, N., Beier, M.L., Bombardier, C. H. (2013). Impact of physical activity on cognition in multiple sclerosis. 29th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) and 18th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in MS.Copenhagen, Denmark. ECTRIMS Research Award

Professional Memberships & Affiliations

European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, 2013-2014

Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2007-2012

American Psychosocial Oncology Society, 2010-2011

Society of Neuroscience, 2001-2006

We are founding the Rowan Center for Behavioral Medicine to form a practice based on integrity; where we offer honest and efficient services with the ultimate goal in our minds to always improve the quality of life for our patients.

I truly believe that healthcare providers should rely on empirically supported treatments whenever possible. I also believe however, that a large part of a provider’s efficacy comes from his or her humanity as it is expressed in empathy, rapport, unconditional appreciation and genuineness. As a provider, I try to do my best to offer this combined effort to my patients.